For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
Ver. 24. So they executed judgment against Joash.] Ignominiosa iudicia, saith the Vulgate; they used him basely, by whipping, torturing, or otherwise wounding him, so that he fell grievously sick upon it. Jerome saith they upbraided him with his killing of Zechariah, as Nebuchadnezzar afterwards did Zedekiah with his perjury; 2Ki 25:6 and as Sapores, king of Persia, dealt with Valerian the emperor, who was at first so mild and favourable to Christians, that his house, frequented by them, seemed to be a very church; but afterwards, being corrupted by a certain Egyptian magician, he so raged against those whom he had before honoured as the people of God, that he exceeded all his predecessors in cruelty towards them. a But God met with this Joash too; for, being taken captive by the king of Persia, he was used like a slave as long as he lived, Sapores setting his foot upon his neck whensoever he mounted on horseback. Thus he lived seven years in reproaches, and then died a violent death. Eusebius saith his eyes were pulled out, wherewith he died. Agathias saith he was flayed alive, and rubbed all over with salt.
a He was author of the eighth persecution.